Booze, booze, and more booze. That’s pretty much the theme of most holiday parties. This December, don’t guzzle down hundreds of empty calories. Instead, review these helpful tips before heading out to your next shindig.

The Downside of Too Much
When you’re in a roomful of colleagues, the easiest way to relax is with a few cocktails. I’m sure you’re aware that drinking too much alcohol can lead to calorie overload. Many of us forget that too many cocktails also lead to decreased inhibitions and loss of control. This can result in mindless flirting with your coworkers or losing control of how much you eat.

The Calorie Lowdown
It’s important to understand what constitutes one drink. The Dietary Guidelines recommend a maximum of one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. During the holiday season, these guidelines usually go out the window. We need to remember that too much alcohol has been shown to increase the risk of a variety of health conditions including cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, osteoporosis, and even erectile dysfunction (need I say more?).